- The only general-purpose AS3900 networked with low-power transceivers for the unlicensed 27 MHz ISM band -
austriamicrosystems (SIX: AUS), a global leader in high-performance analog ICs, has launched the AS3900, a low-power 27 MHz FSK (frequency shift keying) transceiver. The AS3900 features a built-in star network management protocol and is the only transceiver to operate in the 27 MHz ISM (industrial, scientific and medical) band worldwide.

Operation in this band is generally well-documented, but avoids interference found in the 2.4 GHz band and reduces the energy absorbed by the human body (SAR, or Specific Absorption Rate). This is a very important consideration for transmitters operating close to the human body, such as in body area networks (BANs) or medical body area networks (MBANs).

The low-power AS3900 transceiver features austriamicrosystems' embedded Star Network Management Protocol, which provides an easy-to-use, royalty-free protocol with self-management of all network functions. Simplifying product design, the Star Network Protocol significantly reduces system power compared to alternative solutions that require the protocol to be fully implemented on an internal or external microcontroller. This low-power protocol requires only 2.5 µA in polling mode and 3.8 mA and 4.9 mA in receive and transmit modes, respectively, including the power required to manage the Star Network.

“With the launch of the AS3900 FSK transceiver, austriamicrosystems has ushered in a new era of simplification in the low-power transceiver market,” said Bruce Ulrich, Marketing Director, Consumer and Communications, austriamicrosystems. He continued, "This eliminates the need for RF and networking experts when integrating low-power, networked transceivers into system designs. This significantly reduces the time-to-market for these products."

The AS3900's performance and features are well suited to many applications requiring low-power, short-term data exchange. These applications include medical and intelligent exercise equipment, industrial automation equipment, body-worn communication networks, and short-term sensors.